Can piercing and serving device



c. E. M MANUS ET AL 2,160,705

CAN PIERCING AND SERVING DEVICE May 30, 1939.

Filed Dec. 9, 1936 CW zrM mm; W L

Patented May 30,1939

UNlTED STATES PATENT OFFICE CAN PIERCING AND SERVING DEVICE Application December-9, 1936, Serial No. 115,034

10 Claims.

Our invention relates to can piercing and serving devices of the type comprising a pouring spout .having a piercing portion adapted to be pressed through a can top to the interior of the can.

An object of the invention is to provide such a device of simple but efficient design, particularly adapted for use on cans containing pressure beverages, such as beer. Various features of the new device contribute to the attainment of the end sought and as these will be best understood from a description of a specific embodiment of the invention, we shall proceed with reference to the device as shown in the accompanying drawing.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 shows the new device partly in elevation and partly in longitudinal section, and the top portion of a can is also shown in cross section.

Figure 2 is a section substantially on the line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a top plan view of the device.

Figure 4 is a bottom plan view of the device, and 25 Figure 5 is a front elevation.

Referring to the drawing, the device comprises a lever l0 which as here shown is in the form of a channel bar having the fiat web portion ii and the side flanges l2 and I 3 which are perpendicular to the web I I. At one end of the lever the flanges l2 and i3 are extended beyond the web II and are bent across the latter to provide transversely pro- ,iecting claws l4 and I5 whose hooked ends are adapted to be engaged under a fulcrum such as the bead l8 at the top of a can l'l. At the opposite end of the lever ill from the claws l4 and IS, the flanges l2 and I3 are bent inwardly as particularly shown in Figures 1 and 3 to provide a handle portion l8 which may be conveniently gripped.

Adjacent claws l4 and I5, web H is provided with a circular aperture whose diameter is about the same as the width of the web and in the aperture is inserted a pouring spout in the form of a tube It. The tube I9 is disposed in perpendicular relation to web II and projects to either side of the latter. It is secured to the lever by welding or soldering, as at 20, Figure 1,

to the aperture margins and also by welding or soldering, as at 2|, Figure 3, to the side flanges i2 and II which the .tube substantially contacts at diametrical points, as shown in Figure 3. With the tube thus secured to the web- II and to the side flanges I 2 and i3, it has a rigid and per- 55 manent association with the lever.

The portion 22 of tube is which projects transversely of the lever in the same direction as the claws constitutes the entering end of the tube. The extremity of this portion is cut on a bias V as most clearly shown in Figure 1, and its longer 5 side is faced toward the claws. The lower part of the said side is flared toward the claws as at 23, and the side portions are bent inwardly to form flanges 24 and 25, Figure 4, at either side of, a piercing point 26. The bottom edge of the entering portion is substantially in a plane to which the flanges 2i and 25 are substantiallyperpendicular. I

A rubber cup 21 has a central aperture which receives the entering portion 22 and tightly grips the latter to be retained thereon immediately adjacent web II, which latter holds the cup against displacement in a direction away from point 26. In the normal condition of the cup as shown in Figure 2, its edge is in a plane at about the level of the upper end of the biased opening of the entering portion 22.

Between handle l8 and tube i9 a stud 28 is fixed in web it to project in the same direction as entering portion 22 of the tube. The stud 28 is given a point 29 by cutting it on a bias so that the point inclines away from tube l8. On its side toward tube IS the stud 28 is provided with a longitudinally extending groove 30 which terminates at the web I l.

In use, the claws are engaged underthe bead it of the can with the lever in the dotted line position of Figure 1, the point 26 resting on the can top i6, which, as here shown is in about the same plane as'the bottom of bead It. The point 26 is in a central longitudinal plane of the lever which is perpendicular to web I l. Consequently, the point 26 is symmetrically disposed relative to the claws l4 and I5 and when the lever is swung downwardly across the can top, there is no tendency for the lever to sway laterally and as a result the point 28 is forced accurately and cleanly through the can top.

The external wall of the entering portion 22 faced toward the claws is constantly closer to the claws from the point 26 toward the lever, that is, the distance between the fulcrum point and the entering portion becomes progressively greater as point 26 is approached. This means that as the entering portion passes through the can top its face toward the claws constantly bears on the can top metal between the said face and the claws so that the latter are constantly pulled toward the can to be firmly engaged under bead I at all times. At about the time thebiased opening 'of the entering portion is completely below the can top, the edge of the cup 21 engages the can top with a full circumferential contact about the entering portion 22, and from this point until the lever reaches the final full line position of Figure 1, there is a complete seal between the entering portion 22 and the can. If, before sealing contact is attained, liquid should spurt from the opening being formed in the can top, it will be deflected downwardly by cup 22.

Prior to the time the final position of Figure 1 is reached, the point 28 of stud 28 engages the can top and when the final position of the lever is reached the point extends within the can and groove provides an air inlet. Since the groove terminates at deflect downwardly any liquid which may spurt upwardly through the groove. In view of the direction of the point 29 the latter, as it pierces the can top, will also act to pull the claws under the can bead.

with the lever 'in flnal position its intermediate portion bears on the can top and since the device is firmly positioned by the claws and the piercing provisions, the lever and can may be readily held by one hand while the contents of the can are poured through the spout IS. The device may be quickly disengaged from the can by an upward swinging movement.

If desired, a curved tongue 3| may be struck from web Ii adjacent the claws, this tongue being designed to ride on the top of the bead i6 during the first part of the operative movement of thelever l0 and thus keep the claws operatively engaged under the bead shoulder.

It will be understood that the invention is susceptible of varied embodiment and accordingly we do notlimit ourselves to details of construction and form except as in the following claims.

We claim:

1. A can piercing and serving device comprising a lever having at one end a pair of laterally spaced, downwardly projecting claws engageable under a fulcrum portion provided on a can, a pouring spout in the form of a tube projecting transversely through the lever in both directions and secured thereto, said tube having an entering' portion projecting downwardly from the lever and terminating in a piercing point disposed in a vertical median plane between the claws, and means for providing an air inlet in the can top comprising a downwardly projecting pointed stud secured to the lever on that side of said entering portion remote from said claws, said stud having its surface facing said claws disposed on a plane inclined downwardly and rearwardly away from the claws, and a groove extending longitudinally thereof, said groove being closed adjacent the lever, the inclined surface on said stud serving to hold the claws in engagement with said fulcrum portion. V

2. A can piercing and serving device comprising a lever having at one end a pair of laterally spaced, downwardly projecting claws engageable under a fulcrum portion provided on a can as the lever is operatively swung downwardly over the can top, a pouring spout in the form of a tube projecting transversely through the lever in both directions and secured thereto, said tube having an entering portion projecting downwardly from the lever and terminating in a piercing point disposed in a vertical median plane between the claws, said point serving to pierce the can top and enter the can as the lever is operatively swung downwardly, the external wall of the the web II the latter will serve to entering portion of the tube faced toward said claws being constantly closer to the claws irom its extremity substantially to the lever so that as the lever is operatively moving the entering portion of the tube constantly bears against the can top metal between the tube and claws whereby to hold the latter in engagement with said fulcrum portion.

3. A can piercing and serving device comprisinga lever having at one end a pair of laterally spaced, downwardly projecting claws engageable under a fulcrum portion provided on a can, a pouring spout in the form of a tube extending transversely through the lever and secured thereto, said tube having an entering portion projecting downwardly from the lever, the wall of said entering portion faced toward said claws having its end portion flared toward said claws and its sides at said end portion bent inwardly whereby to form a piercing point.

4. A can piercing and serving device comprising a lever having at its sides at one end a pair of spaced downwardly projecting claws engageable under a fulcrum portion provided on a can as the lever is operatively swung downwardly over the can top, and a pouring spout in the form of a tube extending transversely through the lever and secured thereto, said tube having an entering portion projecting downwardly from the lever, said entering portion having a piercing point which is disposed in a vertical median plane relative to said claws.

5. A can piercing and serving device comprising a lever constituted by a channel bar having a central web and side flanges, said flanges at one end of the lever being continued beyond said central web and bent to form transversely projecting claws engageable under a fulcrum portion provided on a can, and a pouring spout in the form of a tube extending transversely through said web and secured thereto, said tube having an entering portion projecting from the lever in the same direction as the claws, said entering portion having a piercing point at its extremity.

6. A can piercing and serving device comprising a lever constituted by a channel bar having a central web and side flanges, said flanges at one end of the lever being continued beyond said central web and bent to form transversely projecting claws engageable under a fulcrum portion provided on a can, and a pouring spout in the form of a tube extending transversely through said web and secured thereto, said tube having an entering portion projecting from the lever in the same direction as the claws, said entering portion having at its extremity a pierc ing point which is symmetrically disposed relative to said claws.

'7. A can piercing and serving device comprising a lever constituted by a channel bar having a central web and side flanges, said bar having at oneend a transversely projecting claw engageable under a fulcrum portion provided on a can, and a pouring spout in the form of a tube passed through an opening in said central web and secured to the margins of' said opening and to said side flanges, said tube having an entering portion projecting from the lever in the same direction as said claw, said entering portion having a piercing point at its extremity.

8. A can piercing and serving device comprising a lever constituted by a channel bar having a central web and side flanges, said flanges at one end of the lever being continued beyond said central web and bent to form transversely proiecting claws engageable under a iulcrum portion provided on a can, and a pouring spout in the form 01' a tube passed through an opening in said central web and secured to the margins oi. said opening and to said side flanges, said tube having an entering portion projecting from the lever in the same direction as said claws, said entering portion having a piercing point at its extremity.

9. A can piercing and serving device comprising a lever constituted by a'channel bar having a central web and side flan es. said flanges at one end or the lever being continued beyond said central web and bent to form transversely projecting claws engageable under a fulcrum portion provided on a can, and a pouring spout in the iormoiatubepassedthroughanopeninginsaid spaced claws engageable under a bead at the top 10 of a can, and a tongue projecting from the lever between the claws and adapted to ride on the top of the bead during the first part or the operative swing of the lever whereby to hold said claws under said head.

CHARLES E. MCMANUS. FRANK L DARLING. 

